Head block for two-line operated grapples or the like



Nov. 18, 1952 G. J. EHRHARDT 2,

HEAD BLOCK FOR TWO-LINE. OPERATED GRAPPLES OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1947 '2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR George 1/. E/vrharc/f HEAD BLOCK FOR TWO-LINE OPERATED GRAPPLES OR THE LIKE Nov. 18 19 G. J. EHRHARDT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 24 INVENTOR George MEhr/zardf 5120M,- 5W+ MM- Patented Nov. 18, 1952 HEAD BLOCK FOR TWO-LINE OPERATED GRAPPLES OR THE LIKE George J. Ehrhardt, Oakmont, Pa., assignor to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 26, 1947, Serial No. 793,919

(01. 29 l--ll2) 3 Claims. 1

This application relates to a head block for a two-line operated grapple or the like and particu larly to a block having means for protecting the lines when a grapple, clamshell bucket, etc., is tilted endwise or sidewise.

Clamshell buckets, grapples, etc., are frequently tilted longitudinally or laterally during use. For example, pulpwood grapples which are used to pick up short logs of wood which have been stacked for storage are frequently placed along the sloping end of a pile of logs. If the grapple is not placed squarely on the end of the pile it may also be tipped sidewise. This tipping puts a sharp bend in the lines at the point where they enter the head block and materially affects the life of the cables which make up the lines.

I have invented a head block which preventsthe sharp bends or kinks and which in addition has an anchor for the holding line below the top of the block thus providing additional head room.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a present preferred embodiment of my invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grapple em bodying my head block;

Figure 2 is a portion of Figure l on an enlarged scale showing details of construction of my head block;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the structure shown in Figure 2: and

Figure 4 is a section along the lines IV-IV of Figure 2'.

Figure 1 illustrates a pulpwood grapple in which my head block may be utilized. It should be noted, however, that my head block may be used in any form of a two-line operated grapple, excavating bucket, etc.

Figure 1 shows the relationship of my head block to the other operating parts of a grapple. In the figure the solid lines show a grapple in its closed position and two sets of chain lines show the grapple in its fully opened position and in an intermediate position.

The head block designated generally by the.

reference number 5 supports at one corner a head pin 6 to which two pairs of corner bars "I and 8 are hinged. The block comprises upper and lower castings designated A and B respectively which are held together by bolts (not shown) which are passed through flanges 5a and 51) (see Figure 2). The corner bars 8 extend directly from the head pin 6 to a tong 9 of the grapple. The corner bars I extend across the sides of the head block 5 and downwardly to another tong II] of the grapple. A main hinge II hinges the tongs 9 and I9 together and also supports a pair of sheaves I2.

The manner in which the operating lines of a cable are guided through and secured to the head block will be described in detail in connection with the other figures of the drawings. It is sufficient to note that the holding line I3 is anchored to the head block as at I4 beneath the top of the head block and that the closing line I5 is reeved in as many parts as desired around hinge sheaves I2 and a block sheave Hi. The drawings show a four-part reeving in which the line passes through the head block 5 down to and around one ofthe sheaves I2 up to and around one sheave I6 carried by the head block, thence downwardly and around the other sheave I2 and up again to the head block 5 to which it is anchored as at I]. The closing line can be reeved, however, in as many parts as desired, and another sheave l6a is provided in the head block to be used in case five-part reeving is desired.

The grapple is operated in the conventional manner by pulling or releasing the line I5, the main hinge pin I I being lowered with respect to the head during an opening movement and raised during a closing movement.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate in detail the manner in which the lines I3 and I5 are passed through and attached to the block. In these figures (as well as in Figure 1) the path of the lines through the head block and main hinge are indicated by dot and dash lines for simplicity of illust-ration.

Two guides or rollers I8 and I9 are mounted in the top of the head block 5 with their axes of rotation parallel to each other and parallel to the direction in which the tongs of the grapple open and close. Preferably the rollers are placed closely adjacent opposite sides of the lines I3 and I 5 which are in the central, longitudinal, vertical plane of the grapple.

The holding line I3 passes between the rollers I3 and I9 and around the arcuate guide 20 in the upper casting A and the arcuate guide 20m in the lower casting B downwardly to a dead end socket 2! which socket is held in the block by a pin 22 (see Figure l). The guide 20 is a groove formed in the casting A below the rollers I8 and I9 and the guide 280; is a Wall in the B casting which curves around the sheaves It and Ilia.

The closing line I5 passes between the rollers t8 and I9 around a guide sheave 23 down to one of the sheaves I2 on the main hinge thence backwardly to sheave I6 in the head block 5 down to the other hinge sheave I2 and back to the head 3 block where it is held by a dead end socket 24 also held in the block by the pin 22. The sheave 23 is journaled in the head block so that it rotates about an axis forming a right angle with the axes of the rollers l8 and I9.

The head block 5 carries a pin 25 adjacent to and generally parallel with the axis of the sheave 23. It is also positioned below the rollers l8 and i 9. A roller 26 is rotatably mounted upon the pin 25. The purpose of the roller 26 is to keep the holding line [5 in the sheave 23 in the event that the grapple tilts endwise in a direction to move the line out of the sheave, and to prevent entanglement of the two lines [5 and 13 when one or both of these are slack.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that both the holding and the closing lines are protected from sharp bends in the event the grapple tilts in any direction. If the grapple tilts sidewise in either direction the lines are protected by the rollers l8 and [9. If the grapple tilts endwise the lines are Wrapped about the guide 20 and sheave 23 more or less than is shown in Figure 2 depending upon the direction and amount of tilting. The holding and closing lines are brought closer together between the same top guide rollers than has heretofore been possible and both lie in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the grapple. A dead end socket for the holding line is provided below the top of the head block so that additional head room is provided. The head block may be cast in two pieces with all the various operating parts mounted therein thus making possible a simple, relatively inexpensive, but effective construction.

While I have illustrated a presentlyv preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be distinctly understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a two-line operated hinged grapple or the like, in combination, a head block having spaced sides, a holding line, a closing line adjacent thereto, said lines lying generally in the central longitudinal plane of the grapple, said lines further passing between and below the top of said sides of said head block, the side edges of said top opposite said lines being provided with curved surfaces to bear against the same in the event of sidewise tipping, arcuate guide grooves in opposed relation to each other to bear against and furnish surface support to said lines respectively for endwise tipping, said lines extending between said guide grooves, a transversely extending member interposed between said lines and their respective guide grooves to maintain said lines adjacent thereto and prevent entanglements, block and hinge sheaves through which said closing line is reeved to close and open said grapple, means for anchoring the grapple end of said closing line, and means for anchoring the grapple end of said holding line below its respective guide groove and the top of said head block.

2. In a two-line operated hinged grapple or the like, in combination, a head block having spaced sides, a holding line, a closing line adjacent thereto, said lines lying generally in the central'longitudinal plane of the grapple, said lines further passing between and below the top of said sides of said head block, rollers mounted on the side edges of said top opposite said lines to bear against the same in the event of sidewise tipping, said rollers having their axes in spaced relation on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to said plane, a guiding sheave and arcuate grooved guide member in opposed relation to each other to bear against and furnish surface support to said lines respectively for endwise tipping, said lines extending between said sheave and guide member, a roller interposed transversely between said lines and adjacent said sheave and guide member to maintain said lines in cooperative relation thereto and prevent entanglements, block and hinge sheaves through which said closing line is reeved to close and open said grapple, means for anchoring the grapple end of said closing line, and means for anchoring the grapple end of said holding line below its respective guide member and the top of said head block to provide increased head room.

3'. In a two-line operated hinged grapple or the like, in combination, a head block having spaced sides, corner bars for said grapple extending to said head block, a single transverse head pin adjacent said head block about which head pin all of said corner bars pivot to close and open said grapple, said head pin being offset from the vertical center line of said grapple, a holding line, a socket for said holding line secured to said head block below the top thereof, a closing line for said grapple extending generally along the center line thereof, and passing between the sides of said head block, longitudinally extending rollers mounted in fixed position on the tops of said sides to at least bear against said closing line in the event of sidewise tipping, a guiding sheave and transverse rotatable member in opposed relation on opposite sides of said closing line in a longitudinal direction below said rollers, said sheave and r0- tatable member'being generallytangent to said line to maintain it in guided relation relative to said sheave and restrict the movement thereof in the event of endwise tipping, transversely extending block sheaves connected to said head block on the other side of said closing line' from said first-mentioned sheave, hinge sheaves coaxially mounted relative to the main hinge of said grapple substantially directly on the center line of the same and substantially immediately below said closing line, said closing line being reeved around said block and hinge sheaves, and means for anchoring the grapple end of said closing line.

GEORGE J. EHRHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,545,099 Harrington July 7, 1925 1,812,926 Buckland July '7, 1931 2,356,255 Lichtenberg Aug. 22, 1944 

